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Post by Madison Sinclair on Feb 2, 2010 12:12:34 GMT -5
OH WHY OH WHY WAS SHE HAUNTED BY A GROUP OF MATCHMAKING GHOSTS? Why couldn't she have the normal sort that smashed around and shook chains so that she would be able to simply have them sent on their way instead of a fussy bunch of old fashioned gentlemen intent on seeing her married off or scaring her patrons half to death?
Rolling her eyes at Jeb as he eyed her new friend, Maddie was just about to wave them off again when Pete suddenly caught her expression and headed towards the back with a gun she hadn't known he had.
"What, did you see something?"
Watching him in bemusement, the petite young woman sighed and frantically tried to come up with an explaination he'd believe. Unfortunately, the sight of her resident ghosts staring at his weapon in fascination made her want to groan. They were ever so curious about the modern age weaponry that she had no doubt that they would try to get a closer look, sooner or later. Sooner, probably than later.
"Um... No.. Nothing at all... I think I just saw... a rat!" she declared in an entirely to bright voice. "My cat must not be doing his job! I definitely think that was a RAT I saw! A big UGLY varmint!"
At that comment, her three spirits glared at her and then dissipated without being seen. Breathing a sigh of relief, Madison flowed Pete toward the staircase and then took them ahead of him so that she could unlock her upper apartment door. Moving inside the cozy little place, she cast him a smile and then eyed his gun.
"Um... do you often find yourself in situations where a gun comes in handy?" she asked in a light, teasing tone before tossing her purse down and heading into the small living room only to have a huge, hairy furball launch itself into her arms.
Stiffling a little screech, the young woman frowned down at the cat and then turned with it in her arms.
"Pete, meet the ever so lazy Garfield... My loveable if so useless cat..."
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Post by Pete Ashby on Feb 2, 2010 15:42:37 GMT -5
Pete eased up when he heard Maddies explanation, he was slightly confused as to why she had decided to emphasis certain words but he decided to let sleeping dogs lie and ignore, as he made his way upstairs he gingerly placed his gun back into his pants.
He laughed when he heard Maddies ask, "Um... do you often find yourself in situations where a gun comes in handy?"
"Only when there's a pretty girl involved, trust me guys can go pretty ape when an attractive woman is in town" He replied, glad that he hadn't had to explain his real reason for carrying it and hoping he hadn't sounded to Corney.
He heard a screeching sound and was about to reach for his gun again when Maddie showed him a cat she was holding "Pete, meet the ever so lazy Garfield... My lovable if so useless cat..."
Pete let out a small chuckle, part out of relief and part out of the fact that there truly was a lazy cat named Garfield "Cute, So where's Odie?" Pete joked as he entered the living room, he searched all the nooks and crannies, his guise was going to be he was just admiring everything, but in reality he was just checking to make sure nothing else was gonna make an apparence, "This is a nice place you've got" He complimented as he made his way over to one of the chairs
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Post by Madison Sinclair on Feb 4, 2010 13:07:03 GMT -5
Hmmm... so he thought she was attractive did he? Well, Maddie took that as a compliment since he wasn't bad looking himself. It had been a long time since she'd had a guy in her home but she found she was actually excited about cooking for someone besides herself.
"Thank you! Its small but cozy. It suits me." she returned in response to his comment about her place. "As far as Odie goes.... Garfield would probably ignore me forever if I brought a dog into his castle. He's a bit.. Tempermental at the best of times!"
Lowering the said cat to the ground, she watched as the huge furball meandered over to Pete and rubbed at his legs. A giggle escaped her as she noticed the hair left behind and then she gave him an abashed grin.
"Well, consider yourself approved. He doesn't like many people...."
Moving further into the apartment, the redhead glanced back over her shoulder as she called out.
"Please... Make yourself at home... Could I get you a drink? I think I have some beer in the fridge that Jess left last time she came over or I have some whiskey in the cabinet."
Reaching the kitchen, she went to the fridge and began pulling out things she'd need for dinner. Since the place was pretty open, she could watch her companion as he looked around and then said.
"If you want.. YOu can turn on the TV or the stereo... I'm afraid I don't have any of that heavy metal that you like ... I don't have all my things here yet but... there is some Sinatra or some softer stuff...." she said, slightly apologetic for her choices. "I tend to like to relax to them in the evenings so...."
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Post by Pete Ashby on Feb 6, 2010 14:51:48 GMT -5
Pete smiled as she spoke about her cat getting upset, he had never had a pet or anything so it was quite unique to here someone speak about them in that way, he watched as the cat meandered around his legs and then went over to windowsill and settled there. Pete listened as she offered him a drink "Sure a beer, would be great" He replied back.
He began to look around her apartment, he wasn't usually one for just going through other peoples stuff but something about this place just didn't seem to add up, the way she shouted at the bottom of the stairs and the way the cat freaked out as they entered the property. He begun to have a look at a few of the old photographs she had lying around, one of them appeared to show an young women standing in front of the bookshop, he assumed it must have been her grandma, he put t5he picture down and went over to her C.D collection, the only thing he could see that what half decent was the Sinatra, he opted to put that on, he would have turned the T.v on but he had a thing about watching T.v when he had company, plus he hadn't watched anything regularly since he was 12, so he let that slide
Putting on the C.d he listened as it opened with Chicago, he turned around and walked over too the Kitchen, grabbing the beer, he watched as Maddie started preparing "can I help you with anything?" He asked hoping to make himself useful, he hated being a spectator
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Post by Madison Sinclair on Feb 7, 2010 13:58:27 GMT -5
As Pete made himself at home and choose some music, Maddie grabbed him a beer and set it on the counter that divided the kitchen from the dining/living area. Her green gaze caught the look that crossed his face at her music selection and she smiled. He definitely didn't seem the type who would be impressed by the taste of music her grandmother had given her as a little girl. After hearing the music he preferred in the pickup, her selection were probably very tame but it brought back happy memories of dancing on her grandfathers toes before he passed away and her grandmothers happy chatter.
It was music that she identified with fairy tale type romances and dashing suitors who liked to kiss in the rain just because. It was also the reason that most people thought she was a bit.. eccentric to say the least and why she felt more comfortable with old books than she did people on a general basis.
Sighing wistfully, the pretty redhead grinned at her own thoughts and then turned her attention to feeding her savior of the evening. When Sinatra started to sing, she hummed along and went about finding her pots and pans. Unconsciously doing a few little swaying dance steps, she put on some water to boil and then turned to give her companion a bright smile when he approached.
"can I help you with anything?"
Laughing a bit, Madison eyed him and then arched a brow.
"Are you any good with a knife? I have some french bread that you can cut for garlic bread if you want.."
Reaching into the bread box, she pulled out a loaf of fresh baked bread and then a bread knife. Setting them on the counter with a board, she tilted her head and gazed at him.
"I hope you really do like spagetti and meatballs. Its an old family recipe and its one of my favorites...."
Just as she was about to continue, the stereo suddenly bleeped and jumped forward to her favorite song ever. Glancing over Petes shoulder, Maddie almost groaned aloud as Jeb and his three cohorts beamed at her proudly. "FLY ME TO THE MOON" blasted out of the now loud speakers and she closed her eyes in resignation.
(hehe.. Feel free to take this however you like it.. These spirits are harmless and kind of like family to Maddie so... And yes, Maddie is a girlie girl.... Shes kind of old style about things like music... movies... anything like that. She was raised a southern belle after all!! LOL )
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Post by Pete Ashby on Feb 9, 2010 7:52:34 GMT -5
Pete picked up th knife and began to cut the bread Maddie had just produced from the bread bin, he watched her as she was stirring the sauce, he was about to ask her a question, when out of no-where the track changed on the stereo and also increased in volume, he almost sliced of his finger when this happened, but he was quick enough to move his hand out of the way.
He turned to check on Maddie but for some reason she had closed her eyes she didn't seem annoyed by it, he guessed she was probably remembering an old memory of her grandma or something, he picked up the knife again and finished off preparing the bread.
After he finished he quickly made his way over to the stereo to check the wiring, he tried hopelessly to convince himself that was all that had happened but he knew that the only time he had experienced similar happenings was when he was on hunt, the bizarre thing was neither the cat or Maddie seemed fazed by the incidents, he returned to the kitchen area "I think maybe your grandma hasn't quite left here then" he hoped trying to establish what it was exactly he was missing from this puzzle he was facing
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Post by Madison Sinclair on Feb 13, 2010 13:05:04 GMT -5
At Petes comment, Maddie muttered under her breath "If you only knew..." and then cast him a beaming smile. Her eyes were impish as she shook her head and took the bread.
"Um... yeah... Maybe... although... This place has quiet a story behind it... During the civil war, a group of confederate soldiers were said to have been stationed here. Do you believe in ghosts?"
Casting him a glance as she smothered the bread in her homemade garlic concoction, Maddie took in his expression and then laughed.
"The story goes that they were in the middle of a pretty risque card game where they were betting the favors of a certain lady of the night, so to speak. They were about to play the final hand when a canon ball exploded into the front of the shop and killed them all instantly. Legend has it that they are still around trying to finish that one last game of poker and see who actually won the lady... More than one person has said they have seen them hanging about..."
Checking the now boiling sauce, she quickly gave it a stir and then turned back to her companion as she tossed the noodles in the water.
"Some people think its just silly but... I kind of like the story... There are times when you can almost feel someone lingering about."
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Post by Pete Ashby on Feb 15, 2010 15:21:31 GMT -5
Pete walked back into the kitchen at the sound of Maddie's voice replying to what he had said about her Grandma he was still a bit weary about anything else that might happen here tonight.
"Um... yeah... Maybe... although... This place has quiet a story behind it... During the civil war, a group of confederate soldiers were said to have been stationed here. Do you believe in ghosts?"
"In my line of duty it is good to keep an open mind about all the possibilities, however I can assure you that I most definitely believe in Ghosts, why do you ask?" Pete explained and finished with an inquisitive expression on his face. he watched as she turned back to concentrate on the meal at hand
"The story goes that they were in the middle of a pretty risque card game where they were betting the favors of a certain lady of the night, so to speak. They were about to play the final hand when a canon ball exploded into the front of the shop and killed them all instantly. Legend has it that they are still around trying to finish that one last game of poker and see who actually won the lady... More than one person has said they have seen them hanging about..."
"You seem to know an awful lot about this particular incidents, I'm sure the knowledge you have wouldn't be accessible in many books including local ones. However, if what your saying is true then it looks like they all won I can't imagine they would have thought for one moment they would be haunting a house owned by so many women" Pete said smiling at her as she turned back to check on the sauce that was now boiling over
"Some people think its just silly but... I kind of like the story... There are times when you can almost feel someone lingering about."
"from what I've seen and heard they don't seem very menacing and from what little I know about you I doubt anyone could even think you were silly, just look at how much you know and what you own, even though you do own Garfield" Pete chuckled at this.
"But if you like i can arrange for somebody to swing by tomorrow and give this place a once over, tell you if there is anything here, heck she might even get rid of them if you ask her to, I am intrigued though is there something more then just folklore and legend to this, I mean have you seen them or something?" Pete asked as he picked up the beer she had left on the counter.
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Post by Madison Sinclair on Feb 19, 2010 10:32:37 GMT -5
Blushing a bit at his remarks, Maddie shot him a glance under her lashs and then laughed softly. Her emerald gaze was direct when she finally finished up her current preparations and turned to him fully.
"Your line of profession... What exactly might that be? You haven't really said much about yourself and I find myself curious... As you can already tell, my life is pretty mundane. I run a bookstore and have an apartment over it so its pretty dull, all in all. What about you?"
Moving to the cupboard, she took out a container of pasta but kept her eyes upon her companion.
"As far as the ghost thing and this place... Lets just say that I'm comfortable with it and I don't sense any ill will from my house guests. The men that died were really just southern boys who had the unfortunate, or fortunate depending on how you look at it, to be killed while playing cards instead of the line of duty. There are better and worse ways to go but at least they didn't feel any pain.. or so they say. One moment they were just playing cards and the next.... Wham, they were ghosts. From what I understand, it took them a bit to become corporal and figure out what exactly had happened but once they did... They decided there were worse fates."
Shrugging her shoulders good naturedly, the petite redhead returned to the island and set the container down. Leaning on the counter, she continued thoughtfully.
"I guess I'm not one of those believers that all spirits are evil or wish a person harm... I think they are just a bit like ordinary people. Some are good, some are bad. If you treat them with some respect, they will return it."
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Post by Pete Ashby on Feb 22, 2010 17:53:18 GMT -5
Pete wasn't sure how to answer the first question she asked it was always the most difficult to answer, if he said he was former military often they would look at him in disgust or start idolizing him, truth was though he only did it to rebel against his folks and if he told her he was a hunter, she might get freaked out, he eventually opted to try and buy more time he kept quiet and finished off his beer.
He listened to what she had to say about the ghosts and how she knew so much about their history, he began to realize he had misjudged her "so which way would you wanna go in the line of duty or playing cards" Pete asked with a smile on his face "But i must admit they were right about their being worse fates" Pete stated "they could have ended up haunting my place"
Pete decided it was about time he was honest with her, there was only one way to find an answer to the question "my life has been a blur up until now, my parents died whilst i was still young, i went to live with my rich aunt and uncle in Pennsylvania, they had kids of their own and got rich, i hated the world for what happened to my parents and as an act of rebellion i joined the air-force, i was dismissed recently after and accident in the air and now I'm just freelance." Pete ran through his history up to date "My line of work?" Pete asked "what would you say if i told you i was a hunter?" Pete asked hoping to leave the ball in her court
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Post by Madison Sinclair on Mar 2, 2010 14:27:45 GMT -5
Laughing at his question, Maddie pretended to think it over and then grinned. Her eyes were alight with mischief as she arched a brow and retorted.
"I think its like that guy said in Transformers... What was it? "Years from now, don't you wanna say you had the nerve to get in the car?" I think that about sums it up for me... I would rather have lived a bit then gone through life without even having a ripple to mark my existance..."
Then, falling silent, she listened to him explain about his past and his life up until that point. Her eyes darkened sympathetically as she acknowledged his grief and then a frown of concern settled on her brow.
"An accident? What kind of accident? You OK?"
Just then, the timer went off on the stove and she gasped before hurriedly grabbing up some pot holder and carrying the now done pasta over to the sink to drain. After doing that, she turned back and answered his last question.
"Hunting, Huh? My friend Jess's does that although I'm really not certain what it means. What exactly do you hunt? Treasure? Ghosts? Or the things that go bump in the night like Jess says?"
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Post by Pete Ashby on Mar 2, 2010 15:43:26 GMT -5
Pete shoved his hands in his pockets and felt the dog tags that he always carried with him, he blamed himself and even though the sarge had told him, that Jason knew what he was doing, he never could forgive himself for what he did that day. he looked down then looked over as Maddie busied herself with the pasta "Ever here of a guy called Jason Roberts," Pete asked and then shook his head "Ya know what lets just forget it ain't that important anyway" Pete said as he tried to respond to Maddie's concerns about the accident "Lets just say I got lucky," Pete smiled.
Pete listened to her remarks about his hunting "I'm gonna have to meet Jess, sounds like we work along similar lines, I hunt pretty much everything, But mainly things that go bump in the night yes." Pete smiled "It ain't good pay and the rewards or none but to track down that SOB that killed my folks, heck thats reward enough for me" Pete nodded in the direction of the saucepan "Guess dinners ready"
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Post by Madison Sinclair on Mar 9, 2010 12:13:05 GMT -5
Something deep inside told Maddie that there was a whole lot more to the story than what Pete was saying but she decided not to push. She knew from experience that some topics were off limits and poking at them only seemed to make the pain worse. This seemed to be one of those for her companion and she didn't know him well enough to pry. So, instead, she slapped on a bright smile and grinned as he asked about supper.
"Looks like it. I hope your hungry!"
Grabbing down a few plates and then busying herself with the rest of the preparations, she cast glances under her lashes at her companion. Now that he'd mentioned being in the military she could definitely see it. The way he drove was explained too, she thought with a smile.
From the corner of her eye, she saw a flash of light and then Jeb seemed to appear out of nowhere. Blinking, she watched him sashay over to sit directly across from Pete and eye him up and down. Squeeking a bit, the petite redhead almost dropped the pasta but saved it just in the nick of time. Looking back and forth between the two "men" at her counter, she sighed and prepared for a long night. This would be the true test... If Pete didn't run screaming from the room, then she would definitely have to think about having him over more often.
Straightening his calvary hat upon his brow, Jeb crossed his arms and eyed the dark haired gentleman who'd come for dinner. His eyes twinkled wickedly as he took his measure and then opened his mouth.
"Hello, Mr. Ashby. Did I hear tale that your a military man? I'm a military man myself... Have you come to woo our Miss Maddie? Since the dear girl doesn't have any family at hand, you'll understand if me and the boys make sure of your intentions..."
Groaning, Maddie wanted to sink into the floor.
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Post by Pete Ashby on Mar 10, 2010 9:38:25 GMT -5
Pete watched as Maddies grabbed some plates to place the food on and noticed the room got slightly brighter for a brief second, he then began to notice some strange occurance happen that really shouldn't be happening, firstly a strong smell of sulphar descended on the flat, and the room dipped in temperature, none of these bothered him to much, he noticed he could briefly see his breath and realised they were about to have company.
He kept a constant eye on Maddie all the time, he wasn't sure of her own experience, but he was probably the right person in the right place for this, he continued to watch when his line of sight was blocked by a gentleman in calvary cloathing "Holy cr.." he let out inadvertantly but it was his military training that forced him to stand his ground, it was his experience of hunting forced him to reach for the gun still in the back of his pants, he didn't produce it immediately he gripped the handle and waited for the guest to make the first move.
He briefly looked over at Maddie and saw the same resigned expression she had when the track changed without warning "So your the one who changed the track then?" Pete stated he watched as the man adjusted his hat and opened his mouth to speak
"Hello, Mr. Ashby. Did I hear tale that your a military man? I'm a military man myself... Have you come to woo our Miss Maddie? Since the dear girl doesn't have any family at hand, you'll understand if me and the boys make sure of your intentions..."
"Yes sir, 3 years in the Air Force, one tour of duty" Pete replied he guessed the man would be a higher ranking officer, he would give him all the respect he deserved "Woo? I'm not sure what you mean but if your asking wether or not i intend to see her again you can bet your Ass, no offence but I think after spending time in the company of three perverted dead soldiers, she deserves to spend a bit in the world of humans"
Pete watched the spirit closely, he didn't look to pose too much of a threat, but he knew that just meant he had tread much more carefully "So what's your deal then are you like, her father or something, coz when I came over it was just for a bite to eat and now I'm meeting the family, I'd have prefered to at least get to at least step up to the plate before then," he joked.
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Post by Madison Sinclair on Mar 16, 2010 21:07:51 GMT -5
Oh Lord... Why was it that she couldn't ever just be a regular woman having dinner for a good looking man without SOMETHING happening to ruin it? Repressing the need to call a priest and have the place blessed, Maddie sighed and turned back to the food. At least he wasn't running for the door as fast as his boots could carry him.
With one ear on the conversation, the petite red head knew her face was probably flaming crimson at the very direct questions Jeb was firing off. Fixing two plates, she was surprised to hear Pete say something about seeing her again and her gaze shot to him with hope shining in her green eyes. Maybe it wasn't hopeless after all?
Jeb seemed favorably impressed as he nodded and then began yammering about feeling responsible for the "poor lass". He was obviously taking this guardian spirit thing seriously and she rolled her eyes when he started on his soap box and women who lived alone.
Finally, having enough, Maddie moved forward and slide two plates on to the small dining room table. With hands on her hips, she turned and glared at Jeb.
"All right.. thats about enough out of you for one evening. I realize you think your protecting me but your not.... Now, would you please go away so that Pete and I can at least PRETEND to have a normal dinner and get to know each other? "
Taking no offense to her words, Jeb stood up and tipped his hat to Pete. His expression was serious but his lips twitched as he shook his finger at the young man and gave a fatherly warning.
"Well, I will leave you two alone but don't think we don't remember what it was to be young and in the company of a pretty girl.... There will be no second or third bases while under our roof."
Groaning, Maddie finally did give up and drop her face into her palms.
"Dear lord.. take me now!" she whimpered.
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